On regulations for 5G: Micro licensing for locally operated networks

Abstract

Future 5G networks aim at providing new high-quality wireless services to meet stringent and case-specific needs of various vertical sectors beyond traditional mobile broadband offerings. 5G is expected to disrupt the mobile communication business ecosystem and open the market to drastically new sharing based network operational models. 5G technical features of network slicing and small cell deployments in higher carrier frequencies will lower the investment barrier for new entrants to deploy local radio access networks and offer vertical specific services in specific areas and allow them lease the remaining required infrastructure on demand from mobile network operators (MNO) or infrastructure vendors. To realize the full vision of 5G to benefit the society and promote competition, innovation and emergence of new services when the 5G end-to-end network spans across different stakeholders administrative domains, the existing regulations governing the mobile communication business ecosystem are being refined. This paper provides a tutorial overview on how 5G innovations impact mobile communications and reviews the regulatory elements relevant to 5G development for locally deployed networks. This paper expands the recent micro licensing model for local spectrum authorization in future 5G systems and provides guidelines for the development of the key micro licensing elements. This local micro licensing model can open the mobile market by allowing different stakeholders to deploy local small cell networks with locally issued spectrum licenses ensuring pre-defined quality guarantees for the vertical sectors' case specific needs.

Framework for spectrum authorization elements and its application to 5G micro-operators

“…Micro-operator concept presented in [4]- [6] and [15] is a potential candidate to provide location specific 5G services to complement current MNO dominant market. The idea is that the micro-operators deploy their own network infrastructure to provide high quality, localized services to the customers.…”

“…But, this process model does not fully present the details of spectrum authorization model elements. In our recent paper [15], we have studied 5G regulations and identified the preliminary elements of micro licensing model. We have provided a brief explanation of the elements without highlighting their relations or focusing on the connections it has to the existing authorization models.…”

“…Here, we have observed that there are few elements (main elements) which have strong relations with rest of the elements. Building on top of [15], in this paper we review the state-ofthe-art spectrum authorization models including case examples of CBRS [10], [11], exclusive licensing [8], and licenseexempt spectrum access [9] using the proposed framework.…”

“…Finally, based on the developed framework, we propose a local spectrum authorization model for the micro-operators, i.e., micro licensing that was originally outlined in [5] and [15]. As the micro-operators' primary goal is to provide 5G services locally, the developed micro licensing model and guidelines are useful for developing generalized spectrum authorization models for upcoming 5G bands.…”

Business Models for Local 5G Micro Operators

“…The two most important drivers of local and private networks with 5G are operations in higher carrier frequencies and the virtualization and componentization of the network infrastructure. The local micro operator concept has been discussed in [2] and [3] as an entity that combines connectivity with specific content services in spatially confined domains, being dependent on the availability of spectrum resources. In addition, appropriate business models are needed for micro operators to realize the innovation and growth potential embedded in this concept.…”